•I Corinthians 16:5-12
•On Hospitality and Other Things
5 I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, 6 and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
(I Corinthians 16:5-9, ESV)
•Main Point
• Paul conveys his future travel plan
• He has plans to visit Corinth for an extended period
• He also requests they care for the youthful Timothy
• And informs of them Apollos’ decision to not visit Corinth
Application Points
• On Hospitality and Other Things
• There are moments when things being discussed can be incredibly focused on the particular people
• One of the things to consider is Paul’s ministry
• Paul was more often than not accompanied by other individuals
• Timothy is an example
• Timothy had a role to play when it comes to the ministry which Paul utilized
• We see the tension between leaders within Corinth was not experienced by the leaders themselves
• They were not always islands doing their own thing, but were often connected with each other encouraging one another in the truth
Application Points
• On Hospitality and Other Things (2)
• They also did not force each other to do things
• Paul implores, but does not demand
• He does not hold a grudge against Apollos for not acquiescing
• This is a good reminder to fulfill the ministries God calls us to rather than doing the ministries others want us to
• Our call is to be faithful to the ministry God has laid before each of us
• It doesn’t mean we can claim, to be faithful while ignoring the Scriptures
• Sometimes we forget the greatest ministries we have is the very lives we live
Application Points
• On Hospitality and Other Things (3)
• Be faithful to the ministry you are currently called to
• In this sense, we would then look at whether they are being faithful to what God has called them to do and be thankful
• Something else that is to be considered is the call to hospitality
• This is not someone staying, but someone passing through
• It can be very exciting for us new people, and since we want others to join our fellowship we can be a little eager!
• We like our fellowship and do want people to join us
• Do we love Jesus? Do we love the Scriptures? Do we love each other? Yes, even if we do not do all these things perfectly
Application Points
• On Hospitality and Other Things (4)
•For every one visitor looking for a new congregation there are ten passing through
• Are we treating these individual with the same love as anyone else?
• Do we, sometimes, not give people our full attention because they are “just passing through?”
• Even if they are passing through they are still believers doing the Lord’s work
• No matter who comes through the door we should always have love as the forefront
• To put them at ease while they are here, and to help, if need be, those on their journey
Application Points
• On Hospitality and Other Things (5)
•They are returning somewhere
• They are still going to a place that is expecting their return
• How can we be more hospitable to those who are especially passing through?
• How can we as a whole bless those who are here with us?
• Be encouraged to think and pray about each ministry opportunity that we discuss
• Just as Paul had a particular calling, and Apollos, and Timothy, this conversation leads us back to that as well
• Above all, we should be seeking to encourage one another into this…faithfulness, faithfulness, faithfulness
Application Points
• On Hospitality and Other Things (6)
•My hope is that everyone who comes through the doors on any Sunday knows the Spirit is with us because of our active obedience to love
• Let us be a hospitable congregation to each other and to others
• May we trust God to bless each and every endeavor as we seek to honor Him with what He has called us to do, and to be
• Knowing that following Him will always lead to what is good, true, and beautiful
Application Points
• The Gospel of Christ
• Origins
• Fall
• Redemption
• Glorification
